Hot top for ingot molds



March Al5, 1932. v

w. H. HAws' HOT TOP FOR INGoT MoLDs v l Filed Dec. 50, 1930 INVENToR .Hams v ATTORNEYS Pantani Mtr. 1s,`

UNITED STATES WILLIAM H.

PATENT OFFICE: I

HAWS, CF .TORNEI/CWNA PENNSYLVANIA,` ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF `'10 W'IILIAIJ W. HOI'FIAN,` 0F JQHNSTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA no1' 'ror ronmcd'r norms annua am December ao, leso. semi. no. 505,635.;

This invention relates to hot tops for ingot A molds and, among other objects, aims to .pro-

vide a removable lhot top which maybe used for a'number of heats.v 6 In the accompanying drawings showing the referred embodiment of the invention: Fig.` 1 is a vertical section through the upper part of an ingot mold showing a hot topin position thereon;l

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the hot to shcwing only the upper part of the mol an 4 Fig.3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; l Heretofore, it vhasl beenv proposed to use hot tops for ingot molds in which an inner lining of fire brick is secured within the hot top casing. However, it has been found in practice that the molten metal will freeze to the lower portion of the brick and when the metal shrinks, this tends to draw the lining downwardly; but as the lining is held against such movement, the liningwill either crack pr crumble, or if the lining fails to 've,-fac tures will be caused in the ingot. `he pres-4 ent invention provides a hot top casing chav-` ing a lining of lire brick which is soarrange that it may be released from the casing and lfollow the metal downwardly as its shrinks. Referring particularly toy the drawings, there is shown an ingot mold of standard construction, on which is placed a `hot top consisting generally of a metal casing 11, having an inner lining 12 of refractory malinin 13 of initially plastic refractory materia such as fire clay, or a mixture of fire clay and ground slag,;or other suitable material. The casing 111, in the precent instance,

' moved from the casing.V The bricks are interial, such-as lire brick, and having an outer top of the` frame 11.

preferably made in two cou'rsesl and 16, each course being Vcomposed of four bricks havin mitered ends as shown in Fig. 3. The fire brlcks have their inner faces tapered so that the liningis thickest atthe top, to withstand the abrasion of the molten metal when it is poured in the opening. The lower ends of the lower course of bricks 16 extend slight ly below the bottom of the casing so as to project down into the top of the mold. The fire brick lining is slightlyI smaller than the inside of the mold so that the bricks forming the lining may readily be' inserted in or resorted in the casing from the bottom and the upper ends of the bricks in the top course 15 abut against an inner inarginal flange 17 'at the upper end of the casing.

It is obvious that the bricks would fall out of the casing unless some means were'pro- 70 vided to suspend them in the casing. To this end, a pluralit of set screws 1 8 are provided, being threadedI through openings inthe side walls of theA casing, there `preferably being two screws in each wall, one above the other, so that at least one screw bears against the dback of each brick; The screws preferably have coarse threads so thaty only a small amount of turning is required to hold or re-r lease the bricks. r

The outerlining 13 is initially plastic4 and is laid on by trowels or other implements, being held in positofn` by means of undercut shoulders provided by horizontal ribs 19, 20 at the top and bottom of the hottop, and by vertical ribs 21 intermediate the corners of the hot top. -The ribs 21 are preferably generally dove-tailedy incross section, as shown in Fig, 3, and the threaded openings for the screws may extend throughD these `ribs 21.. The refractory material 13 ispacked into the spaces between the ribs, as clearly shown, and is securely held, when hardened, by the undercut shoulders and ribs. Preferably, but not necessarily, the refractory material 13 may beplastered over the outside surfaces of the" ribs 21 as shown in Fig.3. When the* hot top is lo be removed, it is lifted oif the ingot mold by means of lugs secured to the 10o f in combination,

lIt will be seen my copending When the molten metal is poured into the mold through the hot top opening,`the inner lining of refractory materialy absorbs suffi- -cient heat from the molten steel to become very hot, thus heating' up the metal casing and the outer refractory lining. The latter acts as an insulator, radiating its heat relatively slowly, and greatly aiding in prolonging the period of time during which the upper end of the ingotis prevented from freezin 1lgZVlien a heat is to be poured, the hot top is, prepared, and the set screws are adjusted tohold the lining in placed in position/on the mold and the molten metal poured throu h the tapered opening. The inner. marginal tange 17, extending as it does partially over the top bricks,'prevents themetal from entering the spacebetween fthe bricks -and the casing. When the metal freezes sufliciently, the lower set screws 18 are loosened and the lower bricks float on the top of the congealing mass of metal. They are then free to follow the metal downwardly as it shrinks. When the mold 'is to -be stripped from the ingot, the hot top is raised from the mold, carrying the upper bricks 15 with it and leaving the lower bricks 16 adhering to the upper end of the ingot. These bricks are broken loose from the ingot and of course are destroyed. The hot top is ready for use as soon as a new lower course of bricks is secured in the casing. After the hot top has been used for a number of heats, it may i be found that the upper bricks are becoming impaired, and if so, they may be easily replaced by loosening the upper setscrews. that by reusing the upper course of brick, are realized as fewer bricks are needed, handling charges on the reduced number of bricks are less, and both labor and' time are materially reduced.

The present invention is an improvementV on the invention described and claimed in application Ser. No. 485,979, filed October 2, 1930.

Qbviously, the present invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described.

hat is claimed is: u 1. hot top for molds comprising, in combination, a metal casing having lower and upper open ends; an inner lining of fire brick in two courses, one above the other; releasable means on the casing in the casing whereby the `lower or both.v courses may be released to follow the metal downwardlyin the mold as it shrinks.

Q 'A hot topy for ingot molds comprising, a hollow metal casing having an inner contour of the same shape and size as thetop of the mold; a refractor lining for the casing, said lining being formed ofcourses of iire brick, each course being made in secplace. The hottop is then very worth while economies to hold the bricks lan outer lining of refractory material; an

inner lining of iire brick in courses one above the other, the outer contourlof the inner lining being slightly smaller than theinner contour of the casing; an inner marginal liange at the upper end of the casing against which the upper course abuts; and releasable means on the casing to hold each course independently in the casing.

44. Ahot top for ingot molds comprising, in combination, a metal casing; an inner refractory lining within the casing and removable throu h the lower end thereof; and meansmounteion the casing and engageable with said linin to hold the lining against dropping out o the casing; said means being readily movable by an l operatork to permit the lining .to follow the in the mold as it shrinks.

In testimony that I claim the foregoingas my own, I have'hereto aiiixed my signature.

' WILLIAM H. 'HAWS 

